Rangers face major battle to land key summer target as league champions plan to hijack swoop
MET IN THE MIDDLE Rangers face major battle to land key summer target as league champions plan to hijack swoop
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RANGERS face a battle to land Brazilian midfielder Metinho.
SunSport revealed last month how the 22-year-old is on the radar of new Ibrox owners 49ers Enterprises as a major summer target.
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Metinho in action for Basel last season
Credit: Alamy
Metinho has flagged up to them on the back of his performances for Basel during a successful loan from Troyes.
The midfield man was outstanding as they landed their first title since 2017 so the Swiss champions have indicated they want to keep him permanently.
Ligue 2 side Troyes, part of the City Group, are willing to do a deal for the player, who arrived in Europe aged 18 for £4 million from Fluminense.
Metinho has had previous loans to Lommel and Sparta Rotterdam in Belgium and Holland, but it's in Switzerland he's found his best form.
Rangers are one of the clubs who have expressed an interest in securing his signature, but Champions League-bound Basel are serious rivals.
They are keen to move first and with interest from Scotland as well as the English Championship, are preparing to launch a bid.
49ers bosses have had new sporting director Kevin Thelwell working on recruitment plans while they waited on the takeover being officially ratified.
And despite not having a new boss in place, they have been preparing a comprehensive list of players to present to him on day one in the job.
Metinho is prominent in their thoughts, but other clubs are circling now ahead of a summer battle for his services.
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